White oak “shoffice” unfurls in St John’s Wood
15 December 2013An extruded American white oak elliptical shell, labelled a “shoffice” (shed + office) has been built as an unusual garden pavilion in St John’s Wood, London.
The American Hardwood Export Council said the project was a close collaboration between Platform 5 Architects, Morph Structures and the contractor Millimetre.
The fully glazed office “unfurls” to form a small terrace in the lawn, while the interior is also lined with American white oak. Platform 5 took its inspiration from a curled wood shaving.
The curved shell was formed in a stressed skin timber structure to keep weight and foundations minimal allow for prefabrication. Exterior facsia was made in slim, steam-bent strips of white oak to accentuate the spiral form.
The oak is untreated and will weather to a silvery-grey.
